The Government of Zimbabwe has ordered all but the most crucial Public Servants needed to man essential services to work from home with immediate effect.
This follows the deaths of two Cabinet Ministers from COVID-19 within a few days.
Announcing the measure, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Nick Mangwana said only about 10 per cent of staff would be at their work posts.
“This is likely going to affect the service the public receives,” Mr Mangwana said.
The order does not include health professionals who are expected to stay at their posts.
However, the Zimbabwean Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) has said the country’s hospitals are no longer able to deal with an increased demand for admissions.
“The continued surge in new infections has caused the hospitals to be overwhelmed and can no longer cope,” the ZADHR said.
It said nearly 1,000 front-line workers had been infected by COVID-19 due to lack of personal protective equipment and many had died.
The Government directive was issued a few hours after the death of Foreign Minister, Sibusiso Moyo (pictured) and a few days after the death of Minister of State for Manicaland Province, Ellen Gwaradzimba.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa paid tribute to Mr Moyo, saying Zimbabwe had lost “a devoted Public Servant and a true hero”.
“I have lost a friend. He fought his entire life so that Zimbabwe could be free,” Mr Mnangagwa said.
There has been a spike in COVID-19 infections in Zimbabwe. Since Christmas Day, the nation has recorded more than half of its total 28,675 cases and 825 total deaths.
Harare, 23 January 2021
